Poultry Feeding. 



363 



they may have trampled under foot. Do not, on any account, 

 throw soft food among the litter — it will become sour and do 

 the birds far more harm than good. Should the litter become 

 damp it must be taken away and dry chaff put in its place, or 

 the young birds will catch cold. It is very easy to allow a chick 

 to catch cold, and very difficult to cure it. 



For the first 28 days feed them as stated above, only on dry 

 food. It is quite unnecessary to give them chopped egg, custard 

 or bread crumbs. Nature provides them with the requisite 

 amount of egg food, and bread is much too heating for such 

 young birds. They should not be fed until at least twenty-four 

 hours old. 



For the first eight days feed upon : — 



18. — 3 parts canary seed. 



3 » millet 



2 finely-cracked peas (green peas are best). 



1 part hempseed. 



or 



19. — 3 parts canary seed. 



3 >> groats. 



2 hempseed. 



1 part finely-cracked peas. 



They may be fed entirely on canary seed and groats if desired, 

 but if so fed the groats should be given separately. The mixtures 

 given above will be found very satisfactory, as no change is then 

 necessary until the birds are fully eight days old. 



From eight to twenty-eight days the birds will grow faster if 

 to these foods be added finely-broken wheat, broken white rice 

 (in very small quantities) and yellow maize. A good proportion 

 would be as follows : — 



20. — Rough oatmeal ... ... 7 parts 



Finely cracked wheat ... 8 



maize ... 4 



,, green peas... 4 „ 



Canary seed ... 2 ,, 



Millet ... 2 „ 



Hemp ,, ... 2 ,, 



Finely-broken white rice ... 1 part 



30 



Once a day the little birds should have a meal of finely- 

 chopped cooked lean meat, as much as they will cat clean, and 



